Sunday Salon: My favorite books of June

The scene: // For the first time ever, I am days past my due date. I’m calm about it, while the rest of my family are on eggshells waiting for the new arrival. She’ll come when she comes. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy my time and just read and do any last minute things.

June: // was an okay month for reading. I don’t what happened. I checked out many books from the library and even read books from Scribd, but there just wasn’t enough “yes!” books. You know the type of book where you want to grab the nearest person and make them read it? Those. Some standouts from last month includes:

Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices edited by Lisa Charleyboy. I spoke about this anthology last week. It’s good to see current work by indigenous people, especially young people. We need more books like this one.

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton and Don Tate. I’m always on the lookout for good nonfiction to share with my kids. Plus, nonfiction picture books are a great way of learning about people and events that you wouldn’t have known about otherwise. John Roy Lynch spent most of his childhood a slave until about the age of fifteen. After that, he took on a number of jobs before becoming a portrait photographer, then a justice of the peace, and finally elected into Congress in a matter of a decade. Lynch’s life was pretty inspirational.

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle. This was another inspirational nonfiction picture book. Decades ago, Cuba had this taboo against women playing the drums or becoming a drummer. As a young girl, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga wanted nothing more than to play the drums. It was her passion. Finally, her father relented and got her a teacher who believed that Millo was one of the best drummers he met. The young girl took off and even started an all-girl band with her older sisters, becoming world famous.

Blueprint Homeschooling: How to Plan a Year of Home Education That Fits the Reality of Your Life by Amy Knepper. With school starting in a little bit over a month, Blueprint Homeschooling was just the book I needed to help me plan the upcoming year. Knepper takes readers step-by-step through planning a whole school year in a matter of weeks. I found the book to be so helpful and it makes things less overwhelming. It was also refreshing to see her mention resources that beginner and veteran homeschoolers can use.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. The basics: a kick-ass young girl who loves to kill and is the sidekick to a local villain. Plus, she’s a shapeshifter. If you haven’t read this book already, you should. It’s much more than it seems. Noelle Stevenson can’t produce things fast enough for me.

I hope all goes well with your labor and delivery and this next week brings a healthy baby into your lives. I have and have wanted to read Dreaming in Indian. So now I am more determined than ever to read it soon.

Oh my gosh, but do you have the right attitude! I don’t think I could ever be so calm and collected waiting for an overdue arrival. 🙂 Hope everything goes smoothly, and that you’re soon holding your newest bundle of love in your arms soon!
And now I am off to see if the library has Blueprint Schooling–sounds like a book I could have used 10 years ago, and could still desperately use today!

I just went for my 39 week appointment and it doesn’t look like this little one wants to come out either. Oh bummer. She’ll come when she’s ready. Those are definitely some great looking reads. My reading has slowed down considerably lately. I’m finding it pretty hard to focus on a book right now.

I’m hoping baby is here by now. I got stuck in The Crimson Petal and the White for most of June so I’m reading a lot of fun shorter books in July to make up for it! Right now is Anansi Boys which I am, predictably. loving. 🙂

Is it baby madness as I write this comment? I love your favourites for the month since I’ve never heard of any of them. Dreaming in Indian and Drum Dream Girl look really appealing to me. Drum Dream Girl’s cover looks lovely!